About us
We are a diverse team of travel technologists, digital marketers and fintech experts, united in our passion for travel as an essential dimension of the human experience.
Our mission is to make travel more accessible, affordable and rewarding for all consumers, while driving tremendous financial results for the world’s leading travel brands.
With a proven, flexible, pay-over-time travel financing solution designed to seamlessly integrate with a travel provider’s existing website or workflow, as well as a hybrid online/offline solution custom-tailored for travel agents and call centers, travel financing through Uplift facilitates higher conversion, increased ancillary uptake and cart size gains across every travel industry segment.
At Uplift, we’re helping millions of people turn their travel dreams into reality. If our mission resonates with you, we invite you to contact us about joining the Uplift team.
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LEADERSHIP TEAM
Brian drives business and product strategy, forges and manages relationships with key partners and investors, and sets the company’s cultural tone. Prior to co-founding Uplift, Brian was a co-founder, CEO and Director of SideStep, which invented travel meta-search in 1999. SideStep was acquired by Kayak in 2007, which in turn was acquired by Priceline for $1.8B in 2013. Brian has been a board member and advisor of numerous startups and holds a BS and an MS in Electrical Engineering from MIT.
Brian drives business and product strategy, forges and manages relationships with key partners and investors, and sets the company’s cultural tone. Prior to co-founding Uplift, Brian was a co-founder, CEO and Director of SideStep, which invented travel meta-search in 1999. SideStep was acquired by Kayak in 2007, which in turn was acquired by Priceline for $1.8B in 2013. Brian has been a board member and advisor of numerous startups and holds a BS and an MS in Electrical Engineering from MIT.
Rob is responsible for development, business and financial operations. Prior to his role as President, Rob was the SVP and GM for Enterprise Products at Cisco, encompassing $25B in revenue responsibility. Earlier in his career, Rob served in executive roles at Symantec and Veritas Software. Rob serves as an advisor to numerous startups. Rob holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Caltech and an MS in Computer Science from Stanford University.
Rob is responsible for development, business and financial operations. Prior to his role as President, Rob was the SVP and GM for Enterprise Products at Cisco, encompassing $25B in revenue responsibility. Earlier in his career, Rob served in executive roles at Symantec and Veritas Software. Rob serves as an advisor to numerous startups. Rob holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Caltech and an MS in Computer Science from Stanford University.
Stu is responsible for technical direction and architecture at Uplift. He has over 30 years of experience in technology as an engineer, co-founder and advisor. Prior to co-founding Uplift, Stu co-founded SideStep, where he was the CTO. Stu has also served as an advisor for multiple start-ups. He holds a BS and an MS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.
Stu is responsible for technical direction and architecture at Uplift. He has over 30 years of experience in technology as an engineer, co-founder and advisor. Prior to co-founding Uplift, Stu co-founded SideStep, where he was the CTO. Stu has also served as an advisor for multiple start-ups. He holds a BS and an MS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.
Wayne oversees all aspects of Uplift’s customer support and operations. Before joining Uplift, he managed core engineering teams at TiVo, SideStep and Netscape. In his early career, Wayne focused on object and relational database development at IBM and Informix. Wayne holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Austin.
Wayne oversees all aspects of Uplift’s customer support and operations. Before joining Uplift, he managed core engineering teams at TiVo, SideStep and Netscape. In his early career, Wayne focused on object and relational database development at IBM and Informix. Wayne holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Austin.
Tom joined Uplift from Miraval Group, where he served as SVP and CMO, ultimately successfully selling the brand and resorts to Hyatt Hotels. Prior to Uplift, Tom held executive positions across the airline, hotel, and online intermediary industries, including at Denihan Hospitality, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and Hotwire.com. Tom was also the co-founder and managing partner of Hudson Crossing, LLC. Tom sits on the board of directors or advisory boards of several companies, including Adara Media, Duetto Research, Hudson Crossing, and Rocketmiles (acquired by Priceline). He holds a BS in Logistics and Marketing from the University of Missouri.
Tom joined Uplift from Miraval Group, where he served as SVP and CMO, ultimately successfully selling the brand and resorts to Hyatt Hotels. Prior to Uplift, Tom held executive positions across the airline, hotel, and online intermediary industries, including at Denihan Hospitality, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and Hotwire.com. Tom was also the co-founder and managing partner of Hudson Crossing, LLC. Tom sits on the board of directors or advisory boards of several companies, including Adara Media, Duetto Research, Hudson Crossing, and Rocketmiles (acquired by Priceline). He holds a BS in Logistics and Marketing from the University of Missouri.
Denise is responsible for spear-heading Uplift's expansion into the Canadian market. She is one of Canada's leading travel executives with a proven track record in sales development, growth, and profitability. Prior to joining Uplift, Denise held a number of senior level positions within the Transat organization including Director of Marketing, General Manager and Vice President Commercial. She is a well-known contributor to the industry and has served as a board member for the Travel Industry Council of Ontario and the Canadian Association of Tour Operators. Denise holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Western Ontario.
Denise is responsible for spear-heading Uplift's expansion into the Canadian market. She is one of Canada's leading travel executives with a proven track record in sales development, growth, and profitability. Prior to joining Uplift, Denise held a number of senior level positions within the Transat organization including Director of Marketing, General Manager and Vice President Commercial. She is a well-known contributor to the industry and has served as a board member for the Travel Industry Council of Ontario and the Canadian Association of Tour Operators. Denise holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Western Ontario.
Frank is responsible for data strategy and analytics at Uplift. Prior to joining Uplift, he was a Director of Strategy at Cisco and an Engagement Manager in McKinsey & Company’s tech practice. Frank holds an MBA from Kellogg School of Management, and an MSc in Physics from Utrecht University.
Frank is responsible for data strategy and analytics at Uplift. Prior to joining Uplift, he was a Director of Strategy at Cisco and an Engagement Manager in McKinsey & Company’s tech practice. Frank holds an MBA from Kellogg School of Management, and an MSc in Physics from Utrecht University.
Terri is responsible for global talent acquisition, strategy and operations. She has extensive experience building the talent function in hyper-growth startup organizations. Her prior talent leadership includes building customer-centric, high-performing talent functions focused on strategic sourcing and operational excellence. Terri holds a BA from the University of California, Berkeley in English Language and Literature, and an MS from Golden Gate University in Organizational Behavior and HR Management.
Terri is responsible for global talent acquisition, strategy and operations. She has extensive experience building the talent function in hyper-growth startup organizations. Her prior talent leadership includes building customer-centric, high-performing talent functions focused on strategic sourcing and operational excellence. Terri holds a BA from the University of California, Berkeley in English Language and Literature, and an MS from Golden Gate University in Organizational Behavior and HR Management.
Amy is responsible for Uplift’s Customer Service team, a team that is committed to supporting Uplift's Borrowers, Travel Agents, and Travel Partners. Prior to joining Uplift, Amy was the Director of Customer Operations at one of Northern Nevada’s Largest Healthcare Organizations. She is a well known innovator in the sector of customer service, and is known for her collaboration with leading customer service platforms. Amy holds a MA in Communication Studies from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Amy is responsible for Uplift’s Customer Service team, a team that is committed to supporting Uplift's Borrowers, Travel Agents, and Travel Partners. Prior to joining Uplift, Amy was the Director of Customer Operations at one of Northern Nevada’s Largest Healthcare Organizations. She is a well known innovator in the sector of customer service, and is known for her collaboration with leading customer service platforms. Amy holds a MA in Communication Studies from the University of Nevada, Reno.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kevin Krone has over 25 years of experience at Southwest Airlines. As vice president and chief marketing officer, he is responsible for all aspects of Southwest’s marketing strategy and execution, including the oversight of the company’s brand development, advertising, promotions, mobile and digital strategy and execution. Prior to his promotion to vice president and chief marketing officer, Krone led marketing, sales and distribution at Southwest. Krone also oversaw the re-launch of the improved Rapid Rewards loyalty program in 2011, which powers one of the most successful VISA© co-brand credit card programs in the world.
Kevin Krone has over 25 years of experience at Southwest Airlines. As vice president and chief marketing officer, he is responsible for all aspects of Southwest’s marketing strategy and execution, including the oversight of the company’s brand development, advertising, promotions, mobile and digital strategy and execution. Prior to his promotion to vice president and chief marketing officer, Krone led marketing, sales and distribution at Southwest. Krone also oversaw the re-launch of the improved Rapid Rewards loyalty program in 2011, which powers one of the most successful VISA© co-brand credit card programs in the world.
Alexander Rosen is a Managing Director with Ridge Ventures (fka IDG Ventures USA). He has been an investor and “consigliere” to early-stage technology entrepreneurs for over 20 years. Today, he focuses on investments in cloud infrastructure, SaaS applications, ad tech, and consumer marketplaces. Alex currently serves as board director at Chubbies(e-commerce for the weekend), Minted(design-driven e-commerce marketplace), Outlier (automated business analysis), Smartling (translation management SaaS), SafeGraph(ground truth dataset for human movement), Tempered Networks (security for industrial IoT), Uplift (payment management and marketing for online merchants) and YouEarnedIt (employee engagement platform).
Alexander Rosen is a Managing Director with Ridge Ventures (fka IDG Ventures USA). He has been an investor and “consigliere” to early-stage technology entrepreneurs for over 20 years. Today, he focuses on investments in cloud infrastructure, SaaS applications, ad tech, and consumer marketplaces. Alex currently serves as board director at Chubbies(e-commerce for the weekend), Minted(design-driven e-commerce marketplace), Outlier (automated business analysis), Smartling (translation management SaaS), SafeGraph(ground truth dataset for human movement), Tempered Networks (security for industrial IoT), Uplift (payment management and marketing for online merchants) and YouEarnedIt (employee engagement platform).
Deepak is a rogue scientist turned venture capitalist focusing on investments in Data, Automation, Artificial Intelligence, and other frontier technologies at Draper Nexus. In addition to serving on the board at Uplift, he serves as a board advisor to Sight Machine (Industrial IoT), Haven(Supply Chain Management) and Payjoy (Financial Services) and co-led the investments in Nauto (A.I. for Transportation) and Cyphy (Enterprise Drone Solutions).
Deepak is a rogue scientist turned venture capitalist focusing on investments in Data, Automation, Artificial Intelligence, and other frontier technologies at Draper Nexus. In addition to serving on the board at Uplift, he serves as a board advisor to Sight Machine (Industrial IoT), Haven(Supply Chain Management) and Payjoy (Financial Services) and co-led the investments in Nauto (A.I. for Transportation) and Cyphy (Enterprise Drone Solutions).